Jammock

ABSTRACT

A heavy-duty, load bearing, partially sun-screening, water-resistant, SUV soft-top for perpendicular suspension between two to four anchor points includes a rectangular panel flat-hemmed along two long sides joined by webbing for fastening around poles by means of metal tension buckles. Hemmed sleeves form each side of the soft-top and receive webbing that extends from the ends of the hemmed sleeves around parallel poles to be secured by a tension buckle. When human weight is applied: panel flexes down and both longitudinal webbings rise up to provide armrests/stabilizers for user. The SUV requires no modifications except for the temporary removal of the current hard or soft-top while in use by a human.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a heavy-duty, load bearing, partial sun-screening soft-top for convertible SUV enthusiasts. More specifically, this invention relates to an SUV soft-top for safe and secure perpendicular suspension between two or four parallel supports.

Conventional soft-tops possess several desirable features for the SUV enthusiast. They provide protection from the elements and sunlight. On the other hand, conventional soft-tops include a variety of undesirable features that have limited their widespread use by convertible SUV enthusiasts. Load bearing ability, ease of installation, and stability are key drawbacks. It has been long known to provide a heavy-duty, waterproof, framed piece of material over convertible SUVs in order to provide a quiet ride (non-flapping material) while also providing protection from the elements. A typical example of such a feature is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,828,364 of Causey. The compromise needed to make a non-flapping element protector has always been that the non-load bearing soft-top's frame must maintain a delicate balance of tension on the material, thereby making it unsuitable for bearing significant loads. Normal soft-tops, in their quest for a quiet ride and protection from the elements, must compromise with hard to install/uninstall frames or multiple straps that require time and tools for install/uninstall, and this delicate tension. This renders all current soft-tops unsuitable for bearing significant loads. Further, these primary soft-tops are tensioned such that they do not flex enough to be comfortable when a load is applied.

SUV soft-tops with significant load bearing capabilities are unheard of. Anyone who has used his SUV soft-top as a load bearing one has regretted it due to decreased ability to seal out the elements, catastrophic damage, and increased noise from violating the delicate tension required for such soft-tops.

In addition to the potential danger associated with setting significant loads on top of an SUV soft-top is the problem of stability. The weight-activated armrest stabilizers and flex of the panel guarantee a secure seat while the convertible SUV is stationery. The load bearing soft-top is not intended for human load bearing use while the convertible SUV is moving. The load bearing soft-top is intended to be unobtrusive for the SUV passengers while not in use for most drivers under 72″ tall due to the semi-rigid nature of the panel material and the tension of the webbing. In the event of the panel sagging, it may be restrained by means of a short piece of rope. The load bearing soft-top's ease of installation renders this invention one of the quickest and easiest to install or uninstall on the market.

The need remains in the convertible SUV industry for a load bearing, heavy-duty, easy to install or uninstall, SUV soft-top that provides a comfortable, safe, and stable construction that can be suspended from the unmodified convertible SUV frame. The primary objective of this invention is to meet this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide an easily installed human seat on top of an unmodified, stationary, SUV that is comfortable, safe, and stable.

Secondary objectives are:

-   -   1.) to provide a heavy-duty soft-top that may remain installed         and unobtrusive to the occupants of the SUV while not in use.     -   2.) To provide some shade that shields occupants from some sun.     -   3.) To provide minimal protection against rain.     -   4.) To provide a semi-permeable soft-top that allows         ventilation.     -   5.) To provide an alternate load bearing capability outside of         the SUV as needed.

In summary, a heavy-duty, easily/quickly installed, load bearing, SUV soft-top, with weight activated armrests/stabilizers for perpendicular suspension between two parallel poles, said soft-top comprising: a rectangular panel having a width and a length sized to cover the front portion of an SUV, that will support a reclined user, said panel having longitudinal side edges and lateral end edges; longitudinal flat-hemmed sleeves secured to the longitudinal edges of said panel; and first and second elongate web members having greater width than thickness, having a fastener coupled to one end of each piece of webbing, each of said fasteners adapted to be coupled to the fastener at the other end of said webbing, and being received respectively within said flat-hemmed sleeves and extending there from an effective length to be connected to said supports to support said soft-top between, each of said webbings encircling both of said supports as said soft-top is suspended. Applying weight of a normal human to the panel will activate each of said webbings resulting in both webbings becoming armrest stabilizers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following description of the drawings, in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is an overhead view of the Jammock constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention shown suspending between roll bars on a convertible SUV;

FIG. 2 is perspective side view of the Jammock as it bears weight to show the activation of the armrest stabilizers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, attention is first directed to FIG. 1. which illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a Jammock construction of the invention, designated generally by the numeral 1, suspended between a pair of spaced apart webbings 2 and 3 on the roll bars of a convertible SUV. FIG. 1 illustrates the Jammock at rest, with the weight-activated armrest stabilizers inactive, hidden below the semi-rigid fabric panel 1.

The construction of the Jammock can be understood with reference to FIG. 2. The Jammock includes a generally rectangular, semi-rigid fabric 1 having a width and a length appropriately sized to accommodate the opening in the roll bars of a convertible SUV. The semi-rigid fabric panel 1 has longitudinal front and rear hemmed edges 2 & 3 which extend along the length of the semi-rigid fabric panel 1. From these hemmed edges 2 & 3 extend front and rear webbing 4 & 5 that act as anchor points for the Jammock. When weight is applied to the semi-rigid fabric panel 1 it flexes downward and the front and rear hemmed edges 4 & 5 flex upwards, above the front and rear hems 2 & 3 becoming the armrest stabilizers.

In terms of materials of construction, the semi-rigid front panel 1 and front and rear hems 4 & 5 of the Jammock may be fabricated from a tightly woven, flexible fabric. For example, the material used as the platform for trampolines is strong and durable for this application, in addition to offering shade and water-resistant properties. The webbing may be nylon belting material of at least 1 inch width fitted with metal tension buckles (double bar slides) preferably made of heavy-duty steel.

In operation, the user simply removes the Jammock from storage and places the semi-rigid fabric panel (1), front and rear webbing (2) and (3) in the open area over the front passenger compartment. The front and rear webbing (2) and (3) are placed over the roll bars of the convertible SUV. The front webbing (2) is then connected on both sides, just under the Jammock by means of the front tension buckle (6) The rear webbing (3) is then connected on both sides, just under the Jammock by means of the rear tension buckle (7). Both webbings (2) and (3) are tightened via the tension buckles (6) and (7). Weight is applied to the top of the semi-rigid fabric panel (1). The semi-rigid fabric panel (1) flexes down. In so doing, the webbings (2) and (3) are tightened more and flex up and over the front and rear hems (4) and (5). This creates the armrest stabilizers.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the invention.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

NUMERALS

-   -   1. Semi-Rigid Fabric Panel     -   2. Front Webbing     -   3. Rear Webbing     -   4. Front Hem     -   5. Rear Hem     -   6. Front Tension Buckle     -   7. Rear Tension Buckle 

Having thus described my invention, I claim:
 1. A heavy-duty, easily/quickly installed, load bearing, SUV soft-top, with weight activated armrests/stabilizers for perpendicular suspension between two parallel poles, said soft-top comprising: a rectangular panel having a width and a length sized to cover the front portion of an SUV, that will support a reclined user, said panel having longitudinal side edges and lateral end edges; longitudinal flat-hemmed sleeves secured to the longitudinal edges of said panel; and first and second elongate web members having greater width than thickness, having a fastener coupled to one end of each piece of webbing, each of said fasteners adapted to be coupled to the fastener at the other end of said webbing, and being received respectively within said flat-hemmed sleeves and extending there from an effective length to be connected to said supports to support said soft-top between, each of said webbings encircling both of said supports as said soft-top is suspended. Applying weight of a normal human to the panel will activate each of said webbings resulting in both webbings becoming armrest stabilizers.
 2. The soft-top as in claim 1, said panel being fabricated of a tightly woven, semi-rigid, water-resistant fabric.
 3. The soft-top as in claim 1, said flat-hemmed sleeves being fabricated of semi-rigid fabric in order to rigorously maintain shape over webbing when weight is applied.
 4. The soft-top as in claim 1 further including reinforcing and abrasion resistant sections attached to the ends of said flat-hemmed sleeves through which said webbings extend.
 5. The soft-top as in claim 1, said webbings being semi-adjustable to shorten the effective length thereof for tensioning said soft-top between said supports.
 6. The soft-top as in claim 1, said webbings tightened enough to allow for self-activation upon reception of weight.
 7. The soft-top as in claim 1, said invention requires no modification of the SUV with the exception of the temporary removal of the original hard/soft-top while in use by a human. 